PhD Course – Nano-optics

• relate the electromagnetic field using the dyadic Green’s function
• describe major near-field optical microscopy techniques
• explain the light-matter interaction in the weak coupling regime using the local density of states
• distinguish between different types of quantum emitter decay rates in homogeneous and non-homogeneous environments and estimate them
• compute the light emission of a dipole emitter in a simple geometry (an interface)
• determine the net force on an object exerted by the electromagnetic field using the Maxwell stress tensor
• compute scattering of light for 2D geometries using the modal method and the Green’s function integral equation method
• describe the weak and strong coupling regimes in cavity quantum electrodynamics

Maxwell’s equations, optical Green’s function, local density of states, quantum emitter, dipole approximation, interaction Hamiltonian, dipole radiation, spontaneous decay, classical lifetimes, far field emission, quantum light emitters, optical antennas, cavity quantum electrodynamics, simulation techniques based on modal and on Green’s function integral equation methods.

The textbook “Principles of Nano-optics” by Lukas Novotny and Bernt Hecht as well as lecture notes and articles will be used. Curriculum is approx. 250 pages.

The course will consist of an introductory lecture after which the curriculum will be discussed in a study group format with student presentations and Matlab exercises.

For evaluation: Oral exam in curriculum.

Fundamental optics on M.Sc. level.